Stuffer box control

ABSTRACT

In stuffer box crimping of yarn fluid is fed under pressure into the crimping chamber at substantially constant flow rate and the pressure in the chamber is maintained substantially constant by controlling a discharge regulation means.

United States Patent [191 Erickson Jan. 14, 1975 STUFFER BOX CONTROL 3,388,440 6/1968 Stanley 28/l.7 [751 Inventor Wayne Erickson, Grenville, 3:253:33 311333 J$3325i$133 28W [73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company,

Bartlesvlne Okla Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt [22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 321,525

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 28/l.7 In stuffer box crimping of yam i is fed under pres [51] Ilit. Cl 002g l/lZ Sure into the crimping Chamber at Substantially com [58] Field of Search 28/l.6, 1.7, 72.14 Stam flow rate and the pressure in the chamber is maintained substantially constant by controlling a dis- [56] References C'ted charge regulation means.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,166,821 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure l/l965 Furlong 28/1.7

STUFFER BOX CONTROL This invention relates to stuffer crimping of textile strands and is particularly concerned with a control method and apparatus.

Stuffer box crimpers are well known and have been widely employed for crimping filament strands, including for example yarns, tows and threads. In some instances it has been found desirable to introduce into the stuffer crimper chamber a fluid under pressure, as for example steam. I have found it desirable when utilizing a fluid under pressure in stuffer crimping to control the fluid and the stuffer crimper itself. In particular, I have found that uniform crimp of the yarn leaving the stuffer box can be obtained.

According to my invention in a stuffer box crimping process in which a yarn is forced into a crimping chamher and the outlet of the crimping chamber is provided with discharge regulation means, a fluid under pressure is fed into the crimping chamber at a substantially constant flow rate and the pressure in the crimping chamber is maintained substantially coonstant by controlling the discharge regulation means in response to the pressure.

The invention is applicable to the use of any suitable fluid flowing into the crimping chamber. For example the fluid can be a quench fluid or can be primarily merely for the purpose of control. In a preferred embodiment however, the fluid is steam which assists in the crimping process by providing heat and moisture to the strands in the crimping chamber. when using steam we have found that wet steam, particularly saturated steam is preferred although dry or superheated steam may be used if desired. The temperature and pressure of the steam are selected to give the necessary or desired heating to the strands in the chamber, having due regard for the material of which the strands are made, and to provide the desired moisture if any.

Referring to the drawing, a continuous filament yarn 11 is fed by means of crimping rollers 12 and 13 into stuffer box 14, comprising a crimping chamber therein and a discharge regulation means 16 in the form of a hinged flapped. Discharge regulation means 16 applies pressure as desired against the yarn in stuffer box 14.

Fluid under pressure is supplied through conduit 17 to the crimping chamber within stuffer box 14 and the rate of flow of the fluid is controlled by motor valve 18 which is regulated by flow controller 19 which receives a signal representative of the rate of flow in conduit 17 from rate of flow sensing means 21. The signal representative of the rate of flow passes to flow controller 19 from which a regulating signal is passed to motor valve 18 to maintain the rate of flow at a desired preset value.

The position of discharge regulating means 16 is controlled by a diaphragm motor 22 in response to a signal from pressure controller 23 to which a signal representative of the pressure in conduit 17' is fed as indicated.

In operation, controller 19 is set to provide the desired amount of fluid passing through conduit 17, as for example, a sufficient amount of steam at a given temperature and pressure to provide a desired treating effect within the crimping chamber, and controller 23 is adjusted to maintain the desired pressure. In turn discharge regulation means 16 is controlled to maintain the desired pressure. What is claimed is: 1. In a stuffer box crimping process in which a yarn is forced into a crimping chamber and the outlet of the crimping chamber is provided with discharge regulation means in the form of a hinged flapper, the improvement which comprises:

feeding a pressure fluid into the crimping chamber at a substantially constant flow rate; and

maintaining the fluid pressure in the crimping chamber substantially constant by controlling the hinged flapper discharge regulation means in response to said fluid pressure.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises:

feeding a pressure fluid through a flow conduit into the crimping chamber; sensing the rate of flow of the pressure fluid in the flow conduit and controlling a valve in the flow conduit in response to the rate of flow to maintain therate of flow substantially constant; and

sensing the fluid pressure in the flow conduit and controlling the discharge regulation means in response thereto to maintain the fluid pressure substantially constant.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said pressure fluid is steam.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said pressure fluid is steam and said rate of flow is set to provide a sufficient amount of steam at the temperature and pressure of said steam to provide the desired heating to the yarn in said chamber to assist in the crimping process.

5. Yarn crimping means comprising:

means defining a crimping chamber;

means positioned adjacent said crimping chamber to force yarn into said chamber;

discharge regulation means in the form of a hinged flapper associated with the yarn outlet of said chamber to regulate the discharge of yarn from said chamber;

a fluid conduit opening into said chamber;

means to supply fluid under pressure to said conduit at substantially constant rate of flow; and

means to control said hinged flapper discharge regulation means to maintain substantially constant fluid pressure in said chamber.

6. The yarn crimping means of claim 5 wherein said means to supply fluid under pressure to said conduit at substantially constant pressure include means to sense the fluid flow rate in said conduit, a control valve in said conduit and a control means to operate said valve in response to said rate of flow to maintain said rate of flow substantially constant; and

said means to control said discharge regulation means includes means to sense the fluid pressure in said conduit and to control the discharge regulation means in response to said fluid pressure. 

1. In a stuffer box crimping process in which a yarn is forced into a crimping chamber and the outlet of the crimping chamber is provided with discharge regulation means in the form of a hinged flapper, the improvement which comprises: feeding a pressure fluid into the crimping chamber at a substantially constant flow rate; and maintaining the fluid pressure in the crimping chamber substantially constant by controlling the hinged flapper discharge regulation means in response to said fluid pressure.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the improvement comprises: feeding a pressure fluid through a flow conduit into the crimping chamber; sensing the rate of flow of the pressure fluid in the flow conduit and controlling a valve in the flow conduit in response to the rate of flow to maintain the rate of flow substantially constant; and sensing the fluid pressure in the flow conduit and controlling the discharge regulation means in response thereto to maintain the fluid pressure substantially constant.
 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said pressure fluid is steam.
 4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said pressure fluid is steam and said rate of flow is set to provide a sufficient amount of steam at the temperature and pressure of said steam to provide the desired heating to the yarn in said chamber to assist in the crimping process.
 5. Yarn crimping means comprising: means defining a crimping chamber; means positioned adjacent said crimping chamber to force yarn into said chamber; discharge regulation means in the form of a hinged flapper associated with the yarn outlet of said chamber to regulate the discharge of yarn from said chamber; a fluid conduit opening into said chamber; means to supply fluid under pressure to said conduit at substantially constant rate of flow; and means to control said hinged flapper discharge regulation means to maintain substantially constant fluid pressure in said chamber.
 6. The yarn crimping means of claim 5 wherein said means to supply fluid under pressure to said conduit at substantially constant pressure include means to sense the fluid flow rate in said conduit, a control valve in said conduit and a control means to operate said valve in response to said rate of flow to maintain said rate of flow substantially constant; and said means to control said discharge regulation means includes means to sense the fluid pressure in said conduit and to control the discharge regulation means in response to said fluid pressure. 